Category Archives: Local

By David Arnett

Rep. Mark Lepak

Rep. Mark Lepak announced Monday his re-election bid for the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in District 9, which encompasses Claremore, and parts of central Rogers County. Lepak, a Republican, is completing his second term in office.

“Voters need to assess which candidate will bring thoughtful, best judgment to the job, and whether that person can be trusted to exercise that judgment, independent of the pressures of the day, while considering the best long term interests of the district and the state. I know myself, and I fit the bill.” Continue reading →

By David Arnett

Editorial Analysis: Tulsans may vote contrary to law Tuesday and the daily newspaper doesn’t think that is a significant enough issue to call to the public attention in their election summary. They are wrong.

David E. O’Meilia, City Attorney in an opinion 2017-03 released August 18, 2017 writes, “The City Attorney is unable to approve the legality of the Council’s Resolution submitting a proposed Charter amendment to the voters changing Charter restrictions on certain employee political activities.” Continue reading →

By David Arnett

Attorney General Mike Hunter is urging Oklahomans to clear their homes of unused or expired medication by taking them to designated collection sites throughout the state on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Takeback Day, tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 28. Continue reading →

By David Arnett

Kathy Taylor’s Blue Diamond Ring

Editorial: Of all the sad tales media mines with diligence, some escape to gain free comedic life as illustrated by Curtis Killman’s story of Kathy Taylor’s ring.

Mayor G.T. Bynum’s most significant contributor now appointed Chief of Economic Development for the City of Tulsa, Kathy (Taylor-Lobeck or Lobeck-Taylor… let’s use Taylor) a former mayor herself; lost her $4 million ring somewhere between a cooking class and croquetat a Meadowood Napa Valley resort. Cue the joke lines as we can all appreciate misplacing a $4 million anything. Continue reading →

By David Arnett

Tim Harris

Edit Note:This is the second in a series of interviews with candidates for Oklahoma’s First Congressional District now held by Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R) who is appointed by President Donald J. Trump to head the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) pending confirmation

Tim Harris started in the Tulsa District Attorney’s (DA) office right out of law school, eventually working his way up to First Assistant. He served on the first specialized prosecution team fighting child abuse in 1988 and served as the District Attorney’s first Director of Crimes Against Children. Harris was elected DA in 1998, and was the longest serving District Attorney in Tulsa County history.

Question: Why, after such a long distinguished career as Tulsa County District Attorney, would you want to run for Congress? Continue reading →